BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – After an intense week of global economic diplomacy in Washington D.C., Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg returns home with renewed optimism for Eswatini’s development journey. Behind the boardroom discussions and G20 sessions lies a story of purpose, a small nation steadily redefining its economic future.
The meetings, hosted by the IMF and World Bank, gathered the world’s leading financial minds to address shared challenges, from global debt pressures to inclusive growth. Amid the crowd of powerful voices, Eswatini stood tall. Having cleared its IMF obligations in full, the Kingdom now engages the world from a position of confidence and self-reliance.
At the heart of Rijkenberg’s mission was a vision of transformation that reaches even the remotest corners of the nation. One shining example is the Mkhondvo-Ngwavuma Water Project, which will bring new life to Lavumisa’s farmlands. With support from the OPEC and Saudi Funds, this project promises not only food security but also green energy generation through hydroelectric innovation, a powerful symbol of progress and sustainability.
Rijkenberg’s meetings with global partners also opened doors for broader collaboration.
“We are building relationships that will empower Eswatini’s people for generations,” he said. The Minister highlighted that Africa’s representation at the G20 has strengthened the continent’s negotiating power, ensuring that policies of global finance reflect the realities of developing nations.
Meanwhile, Moody’s upgrade of Eswatini’s credit rating to B2 underscores growing international confidence in the country’s economy. This progress, Rijkenberg explained, will make borrowing more affordable and allow more resources to flow into social development, infrastructure, and job creation.
Yet, beyond numbers and ratings, this trip was about hope, hope that every effort abroad translates into tangible improvements at home. From global boardrooms to the dusty fields of Lavumisa, Eswatini’s financial diplomacy is paving the road to shared prosperity.
As the Minister summed up, “We’ve worked hard, represented Eswatini with integrity, and returned knowing that our partnerships are stronger, our vision is clearer, and our people’s future is brighter.”
Indeed, Eswatini’s story in Washington was not just about finance, it was about faith in what a determined nation can achieve when guided by unity, purpose, and progress.
(
Courtesy Pic)
